As the Elders gathered with Jiaoshu in the meeting room, an angry Shing asked, {What is the meaning of this, Po Sin?}

The party had proceeded for another hour before breaking up. Dee had gathered her things up with the help of Manchu and Li Mei, taking everything up to her room. She had asked to be alone for a while and no one had seen her out of her room since.

Po Sin looked up from his seat, a mask of cool calm on his face. While the rest of the men in the room appeared outwardly at ease, each was roiling inside with anger. Jiaoshu was especially furious at the outcome of the decision.

{When I saw Kueng on his deathbed, he told me that it had already been decided that she would be allowed in the Triad. You dare overturn a decision that was made weeks ago?} Jiaoshu asked, placing his hand flat on the table to keep it curling into a fist.

With an arrogant look on his face, Po Sin turned to Jiaoshu. {The girl isn't ready for the Triad. Have you ever been able to curb that unruly streak of hers? While her performance the day she defeated Feng and Kueng talked with her was admirable, it was still that. A performance. I will not tolerate her making a mockery of our traditions!}

{No, Po Sin. You will not get past your first impression of the girl. That she is a white playing at being an Asian. That is where you are wrong. The girl has the heart and mind to join, as well as the spirit that is desperately needed in the Triad today. Yes, she has an unstable streak in her! That does not stop her from being good at what she does!} Shing interjected.

{And what is to say that she would not become dangerous in the course of a mission we assign her to? What is to say that she would not betray us at the first chance?}

{That is ridiculous! You have known the girl since she was seven years old and I brought her off the street! Now you tell me that she would betray us, those who took her in, gave her shelter, gave her strength and pride in herself?} Jiaoshu shook his head in disgust at the new High Elder. {You have learned nothing about her or those who have taught her over the years.}

Fai spoke up after listening to this all. {I have not known the girl very long, but I do know that Kueng would never misjudge a candidate for the Triad. Never in my entire time with the Jade Tigers has he ever allowed someone in that could not handle the jobs they were assigned. May I respectfully ask that I be allowed to observe Xiaohu for the next few months so that I may have some say over the girl's fate? Perhaps she can be re-evaluated and a decision can be reached that will appease everyone?}

A grumbling came from Po Sin, but before he could speak both Shing and Jiaoshu accepted this decision. No one thought anything about having overruled Po Sin's rash judgment on the girl. It was Fai's first proposal since he had become an Elder. Though he had been told of the achievements of the girl and told that she was to become a member of the Triad, he still knew little about her. However, that had not stopped him from becoming angry when Po Sin so unjustly replaced the acceptance character in her envelope with a blank piece of parchment.

The meeting ended after a few short words about how the re-evaluation would go. It was against tradition to allow a second chance, but this exception would be made, based on the fact that Dee should have been initiated.

~ ~ ~

Dee pulled open her window shade at the sound of a soft knock. She was not surprised to find Manchu crouching outside of her window, dressed in his guard uniform. He smiled softly at her and waited for her to open the window to him. Dropping quietly to the floor, he said nothing as he pulled her into a hug.

"I don't think that was fair at all, Xiaohu-ai. We all know that you should have been accepted."

There were no more tears left in her at the moment. More than anything, Dee wanted to strike out and hit something; to vent her anger at the injustice of it all. Instead she hugged her friend tightly to her. She had to stretch a little to rest her chin on his shoulder, but that simple act made her feel even more secure and comforted in his arms just then.

"Manchu, do you think I was supposed to get in? I mean, ever since Kueng died, I felt like no matter how good I did from that day on, it didn't matter."

He pushed her to arms length, looking at her with her eyes and face puffy from crying so much. For a moment he began to shake his head, then stopped. Manchu hadn't thought of that before. Certainly everyone knew, but never spoke, of the animosity Po Sin felt toward Dee. More than a couple times Manchu had heard a snatch or two of conversation he was not meant to overhear where Po Sin referred to Dee as "the white mistake."

"I think that you should have. With your skills, there should have been no question, ever, to your worthiness to join." He paused, cocking his head to the side as a shrill whistle sounded just outside the window. "I have to go. Chin up, Xiaohu! This will be worked out!"

As quickly as he had come, he was gone and melted into the shadows. Dee sighed. She could've been out there with him and his new friends within a week had she been accepted that night. The jade colored tattoo Manchu proudly sported swirling up his forearm could have been in her future as well. She, however, had always planned to have the tattoo placed on her shoulder.

With a wistful sigh, Dee scooped a pile of new clothing off her bed, dumping it into a chair for the time being. After securing her window shade, she climbed into bed, hugging the ragged plush cat she had carried with her from the orphanage so many years ago. The hug and words from Manchu made her feel somewhat better and she soon drifted off to sleep.

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